Petition For Higher Pay, Benefits for DCPS Substitute Teachers in Washington, DC

If you are a parent, a guardian, a teacher, a principal, or a citizen of the District of Columbia, you should care about this issue because well-educated and well trained substitute teachers (ST) are a critical part of the public school ecosystem. When teachers need to be out of the classroom for meetings, doctors appointments, stress management, illness, or caretaking, an ST should be available to take over. When there is not one available, students are required to split up into other teachers' classrooms, overloading that teacher. Or someone from administration is required to neglect their responsibilities and teach the class. These situations are not good for the students. They deserve a skilled substitute teacher to implement the teacher's lesson plan or create alternative learning activities for that class.  
We need you to join our campaign asking the DC Mayor and Council to invest in our schools by providing a living wage for ST's and paying for paid professional development for ST's as well. Substitute teachers cannot continue to work for poverty wages and volunteer on professional development days!